Surgical binder



Sept. 20. 1955 A. TRZNADEL SURGICAL BINDER Filed July 2, 1954 INVENTOR. j W/f United States Patent T 2,718,008 SURGICAL BINDER Amelia Trznadel, Holyoke, Mass. Application July 2, 1954, Serial No. 440,916 1 Claim. (Cl. 241) My invention relates to new and useful improvements in girdles, corsets, belts, surgical binders, abdominal binders, post-operative supports and the like and is directed more particularly to the provision of a supporting structure for supporting the abdomen and to an improvement in the means for accomplishing same.

It is the principal object of the invention to provide a novel and improved construction of the type by which the abdomen of the wearer is supported and there is the further provision of a means whereby the entire abdominal area may be supported with any desired degree of pressure being created whereby the process of healing may be expedited and the unwanted reopening of the surgical incision may be obviated.

One of the primary purposes of the invention is to provide structural and operational improvements in devices of the class to which reference has been made which improvements not only simplify the structure as such, but also provide important distinct advantages in strength, durability, efficiency and the like.

The function of properly supporting the abdomen is particularly necessary in post-operative and pregnancy cases. The gentle supporting action of the device of this invention approximates the ideal natural function of the abdominal muscles.

As a post-operative support, the device has the capability of binding the entire abdominal area whereby the desired pressure can be created by drawing up or releasing the lacings in the rear thereof. The adjustable means, when properly adjusted, has an upward supporting effect which lifts the entire abdomen.

As an abdominal binder for pregancies, the wearer is provided with a scientific control during the entire period of pregnancy. The adjustable means, when properly adjusted, creates an uplift which supports the abdominal walls and prevents sagging fromthe increasing weight of the fetus. Further, after childbirth, the binder may be worn as a regular abdominal binder.

The device is likewise adapted for use in the case of a pendulous abdomen, same being an ideal obesity support. It functions to lift the sagging organs upwardly so as to serve to give the wearer immediate relief.

For general all-around wear, the abdominal binder of this invention is useful and has broad applications for housewives, heavy factory workers, truck drivers, athletes and the like who frequently find the need for improved support of the abdomen.

Because of its superior supporting characteristics, the device is valuable in keeping the abdominal walls from sagging. Consequently, backache is relieved because strain on the back muscles is eliminated. In operation, it supports the abdomen and maintains the organs in their normal position and further helps the stomach and intestines to regain their normal tone.

Another and very important object of the invention is to produce a device of the character described which will not wrinkle and/ or crawl but will remain in place at all times.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means for adjusting the belt for different users and also to provide other means to assist the user in making minor adjustments from time to time as the device is being worn.

In addition to the foregoing, it is an object of the invention to provide a device which, is flexible in each position and at all times duringuse. It is ,a further object to 2,7 18,008 Patented Sept. 20, 1955 obtain the foregoing results without the use of complicated straps, steel, or buckles. One of the advantages of a device having the above described characteristics is that it can be used in post-operative cases and can be worn day and night without any discomfort.

It is also an object of the invention to provide means whereby garters which can be readily attached to or readily removed from the device so that the same device can be used either way and can be readily converted from one type of device to the other while requiring a minimum of structure and at the same time a minimum of operations are required to make the change from one type to the other.

It is to be understood that while the structure set forth in the foregoing description as being especially adapted for certain uses such as being used in connection with surgery, or in pregnancy cases, its use is not necessarily confined to such cases and it may be employed as a belt for general use and may be used by men as well as by women and in many such cases its advantages are very important as well as in the cases which have been discussed.

With the above primary objects in view, it is another object of my invention to provide a construction of the above described character which is not only distinctive in its appearance and practical in its value but also reliable in its operation and efiicient in its use.

Still further objects are to provide a device which is constructed of relatively simple parts which are adapted to be readily assembled and to provide such other improvements in and relating to abnominal supports of the type above referred to as are hereinafter described and claimed.

All of the above objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangements of parts thereof, as will fully appear by a perusal of the description below and by various specific features which will be hereinafter set forth.

To the above cited and other ends and with the foregoing and various other novel features and advantages and other objects of my invention as will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claim hereunto annexed and more fully described and referred to in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a front elevational view of the surgical belt of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partial rear elevational view of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in the opened position showing the hook means of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a front perspective view of a belt embodying the invention as it appears as worn by the user.

In the accompanying drawing, I have illustrated a complete example of a physical embodiment of the invention in which the parts are combined and arranged in accordance with one mode which I have devised for the practical application of the principles of the invention.

It will, however, be understood that changes and alterations are contemplated and may be made in these exemplifying drawings and mechanical structures, within the scope of the claim, without departing from the principles of the invention.

In the following description and claim, various details will be identified by specific names for convenience. These names, however, are intended to be as generic in their application as the art will permit.

Referring now to the drawing more in detail, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures and referring more particularly to the preferred form of my invention selected for illustrative purposes, I have shown a surgical belt which is generally indicated by the numeral 101 The belt comprises two portions, namely a forward portion and a rearward portion which are worn by a wearer, denoted by W in Fig. 5, the forward portion beingworn in front of the wearer adjacent his abdomen and the rearward portion being worn in back of the wearer adjacent his back.

The forward portion of the belt is called the abdominal member and is formed of a pair of layers of an elastic fabric, preferably of the knitted type known as two-waystretch material which is adapted to conform to the shape of the abdomen.

One-of the two layers, which has the reference character 12, lies nearest to the abdomen of the wearer and may be'described as being the inner layer. The upper edge or top of the layer 12-is bound as by a tape 14 or the like.

The other layer, designated as 16, lies farthest from the abdomen of the wearer and may be described as being the outer layer. The upper edge or top of the layer 16 is bound as by a tape 18 or the like.

The two layers 12 and 16 may be connected together at their lower edges along the line 20 or, if desired, the two layers may be formed from the same piece of elastic fabric which may be so folded that they are integral with each other at their lowermost edge and separate from each other at their upper edges in a manner whereby the upper edge of layer 16 is spaced below the upper edge of layer 12, as best shown in Fig. 1.

The side edge of the inner layer 12 positioned at the right side of the wearer and the corresponding and adjacent side edge of the outer layer 16 are fastened to each other by each being sewed to a tape or stripping 32.

It will be observed that while the upper and lower layers may be moved with respect to each other, as will appear more fully hereinafter, there can be no movement between the two layers at their opposite side edges where they are fixed to each other by means of the tapes or strippings and 32.

The rear portion of the belt may be constructed in various ways, one way being by the use of an elastic webbing serving as a skirt having opposite side edges bound by the tape 30 on the right side edge and the tape 34 on the left side edge- The lower edge of the skirt 40' may be boundby a tape 42 and the upper edge thereof may be bound by a tape 44.

In the form shown herein, the rear portion of the belt is permanently attached to the abdominal portion only on one side thereof and then by means of the tape 30 which secures the members 12, 16 and 40 to each other. At the opposite side edge, layers 12 and 16 are joined together by means of the tape 32 which carries hooks which are engageable with eyes 52 which are carried on a tape 54 fixed to the tape34.

It will be understood, however, that the forward and rear portions of the belt may be permanently secured to each other on both side edges if desired, in which instance the belt may be worn by stepping into it in the well known manner or by passing it downwardly over the head of the wearer in a manner as is also well known.

Additionally, tightening members may be employed which are disposed adjacent the skirt member 40 and comprise a pair of primary tightening members and 60 which are secured along thin outer side edges of the members 30 and 34 as by stitching and a pair of secondary tightening members 62 and 62 each partially overlying a primary tightening member and likewise being secured along their outer side edges to the members 30 and 34, all 'as is shown.

The adjacent inner edges of each related primary tightening member 60 and secondary tighteningmember 62 are secured to each other by means of an eyelet member 64 having a plurality of eyelets 66 for the reception of a lacing 68 by means of which the opposite side edges of the forward portion may be drawn together and the belt tightened to the desired position of adjustment around the wearer.

This adjustment of the belt may be done in either of two ways, one of which is to draw the belt up tight while it is in place on the wearer and the other method is to adjust the length of the belt before it is in place on the wearer and then to step into the belt sideways and then to draw it into place around the hips and body of the wearer.

Supporting devices 70 for stockings or garters may be provided if desired.

In the foregoing description of the construction of the device, the method of operation has also appeared fully set forth and needs no further explanation as to most of the features of operation.

Emphasis must be placed, however, upon the feature of operation involved in the use of two layers of fabric fastened at their respective ends to the rear portion of the belt and fastened together at the bottom (or stated otherwise a single piece folded upon itself). The principal advantage of this form of construction lies in the fact that such a belt does not creep or change its position but stays in the position to which it has been adjusted for an indefinite period of time.

Another advantage which flows from the double layer of elastic material over the abdomen is due to the pocket which is constituted by the inner and outer layer together with the fold at the bottom. The wearer by placing his or her hands within the pocket can push his or her hands downwardly and the relative position of the two layers will change as for example from that shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 5. By this means, the location of the pressure between the belt and the abdomen may be altered and also the final adjustment of the pressure may be made in this manner so as to have the maximum effect in preventing creeping.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. Hence, the present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects merely as being illustrative and not as being restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claim rather than by the foregoing description, and all modifications and variations as fall within the meaning and purview and range of equivalency of the appended claim are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What it is desired to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

An abdominal supporter comprising, a rearward elastic webbing adapted to be disposed at the small of the back of a wearer, and aforward abdominal member formed from an elastic fabric and extending from said elastic webbing at one side thereof to said elastic webbing at the other side thereof, said abdominal member being folded along the lower portion thereof to provide inner and outer layers having a double thickness of abdominal members at the lower portion thereof for supporting the lower abdominal region, the inner and outer layers of said abdominal member being secured at their respective lateral edges by vertically extending lines of stitching permanently securing opposite longitudinal sides of said abdominal member and sides of said rearward elastic webbing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 825,561 Storm July 10, 1906 2,309,501- Cohen .Jan'. 26,. 1943 2,469,793' Siegel May 10; 1949 26595084 Trznadel Nov. 17, 1953 

